Bryant Payden

Point Loma is a seaside neighborhood of San Diego, California. Geographically it is a hillypeninsula that is bordered on the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, the east by the San Diego Bay and Old Town and the north by the San Diego River. Along with the so-called "Coronado Island" and the Silver Strand, Point Loma separates the San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean.

Point Loma has an estimated population of 45,887 (including Ocean Beach), according to the 2000 Census Bureau

The "new" Point Loma Lighthouse was constructed on the shore below the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in 1891 because the Old Light, at 422 feet above sea level, was frequently enshrouded in fog and thus of little use to mariners. The Light is not open to the public but can be viewed from the parking area in Cabrillo National Monument.

Today, the keepers' quarters continue to house Coast Guard officers, who are fortunate to enjoy the prime oceanfront property. The lighthouse can be seen from a lookout point near the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in Cabrillo National Monument, or you can take a road down to the tide pools at the base of the point.

Below is a recent example of a high dynamic range image created using Photomatix Pro 3. The image is of the Coronation Court at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. The Coronation Court is where the Queen Azalea is crowned every year at the Norfolk International Azalea Festival. This image was created from three bracketed exposures +/- 2 stops.

Hampton's premier park is a 456 acre environmental education and wildlife management facility. Born from borrow pits and garbage dumps, the park is truly a success story of reclamation of our natural resources. From the 10,000 square foot nature center overlooking Sandy Bottom Lake to the elusive creatures that inhabit the wetland marshes, there is something for everyone at the Sandy Bottom Nature Park.

Below are just a few examples of a recent trip to Sandy Bottom:

Last weekend, August 8-10 2008, was the 82nd annual Hampton Cup Regatta on Mill Creek at historic Fort Monroe, Phoebus Va. The weekend features a car show, plenty of speed, vendors and a "Bash on the Bridge" overlooking Mill creek and the races. There were several classes of watercraft competing and is a fun filled family weekend.

While on a photography excursion to the quaint waterfront section of Hampton, known as Phoebus, I came across and shot a Heron I haven't seen in this area as often as I see the abundant Blue Herons and Great Egrets. The Heron I shot was a Yellow-crowned night heron, below is a juvenile bird:

I also shot this adult bird across Mill Creek in a tree:

One of the great things about living in the Hampton Roads area is the abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery.